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Post by taartoq on Nov 21, 2008 15:51:30 GMT -5
Taartoq respectfully stayed a step and a half behind Nati during the invariably short walk, not wanting to precede her approach because there was simply no reason. It was Nati's conversation and Taartoq had no reason whatsoever to intrude. He would join in silent observance, mostly because there was so little to say, and unless his thoughts grew to be somewhat relevant to the conversation, he would keep his mouth shut. The discussion between two women surely wouldn't verge his way too often, he presumed.
However, the first thing Nati said involved him and drew him to speak, regardless of how much or how little he said. Of course he knew her, though not quite so directly. He had met her at the archive building, where she unfortunately became victim to a mass of wayward books falling all over her, then again at the shelter during the siege where her little sister needed to be calmed in light of the circumstances. Taartoq knew her by name, title, family, and everything else...he just didn't know her terribly personably. They were simply in far too different of circumstances to have bonded as friends, understandably enough.
In spite of the truth, he spoke what he felt were the most courteous words in relation to things; yet if one looked deeply enough, they could tell what Taartoq truly meant. "Yes. I know Lady Ukaleq of the Ulloriaq family quite well."
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Post by ukaleq on Nov 21, 2008 17:30:49 GMT -5
She turned her head with a little sound from her throat, something a startled cabbit might make. She glanced over her shoulder with wide eyes, her dark lashes thick and rimming her navy blue eyes. Nati had called her attention, speaking with carefully chosen words as if introducing the two. Ukaleq had to smile softly, more with her eyes than with her lips. Yes, she knew Taartoq, the Master Archivist of the North Pole, keeper of tales and of lore.
Also, the man who Ukaleq had secretly harbored tender feelings towards for at least a year or so. Perhaps approaching two years now. Not that she would ever speak a word of such, nor would she ever dream of such. The man with the long, rippling hair was married to a wonderful wife and Ukaleq respected that. She treasured his wisdom, as he had helped her find what she was looking for many times in the Archives, and even had come to her aid when she had innocently knocked many books off their shelves. Her cheeks flushed at the embarrassing memory. It was so unladylike! She dropped her eyes for a moment, biting her lower lip before lifting her sepia toned face upward, the celadon tuffs of tulle shaped into wide-petaled flowers framing her face. "Hello Master Taartoq." She spoke pleasantly with a hint of friendly affection. "It is is good to see you outside of the Archives. Fresh air does person much good."
She remained seated on the half wall, but turned towards them. There was plenty of room to her side if they wished to seat as well. She lifted a hand to her collarbone, where thick fur wrapped around her neck and shoulders, a metal curl of polished silver hanging from where the fur met. Absent mindly she twisted it in her gloves fingers as she looked towards Nati with expectant, questioning eyes. Was there something she wanted..? Some reason she had brought the tall, narrow archivist who bent the ink that Naira loved to watch to her?
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Post by aden on Nov 22, 2008 12:24:27 GMT -5
Aden turned his free palm up and shrugged slightly at Misui's question about the Southern warriors. Since his time back in the North, he hadn't heard much about troop movements. He did notice, however, that Ryota seemed mildly confused at his fiance's answer. It made the young warrior wonder if perhaps the two hadn't smoothed out the logistics of their pending marriage.
However, Desna's sudden spotting of a friend and her following departure distracted the group from that issue. Aden was a little surprised at how quickly she switched focus and decided to leave, but then again, did that seem so strange coming from Desna?
"Okay," he managed to say before she was out of earshot, "See you later..." He was then left alone with the newly-engaged couple, and for a moment Aden wondered if he was going to be witness to some sort of argument over where they were going to settle down. However, Ryota side-racked that conversation by apologizing.
"Don't be sorry," Aden said, slightly confused as to why Ryota felt the need to apologize, "I'm sure she wasn't offended... She just really likes to dance, apparently." He glanced off in the crowd to follow Desna's path for a moment, but noticed that she wasn't exactly veering towards the middle of the dance floor.
Aden hummed quietly to himself and attempted to drink some more tea, only to find his cup was already empty.
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Post by misui on Nov 22, 2008 13:09:48 GMT -5
Misui noted the anxiety from Ryota and frowned slightly, didn't ne know they were moving south? She'd mentioned it.she was sure of that. Maybe he didn't know if she was serious or not. Either way she placed a kiss on his cheek smiling at him fondly. " I want to live in the South." She restated letting it be known that it was her preference, of course the north had her family but she wanted to break off from her large cluster and start her own with Ryota. From what she'd heard they'd need benders down there. She wasn't the best healer but she was skilled and would be able to help them out somewhat
Desna seemed to take the teasing a little harshly and she erased herself from the picture. It did surprise her that Aden didn't give chase, maybe they weren't as close as she'd thoght they were. Ryota spoke up to apologize but she felt it was unneeded, they were just lightly ribbing them. No need to be up in arms over it.
The woman shrugged indifferently, Desna was always a little off, she'd be more likely to run from commitment, She'd always seen her as some sort of solitary figure, she had her passing acquaintances and knew everyone but who knew much about her? " Don't worry, Desna is flighty as long as I've known her.' Why she was like that was a mystery though. It wasn't normal for such a young girl to live alone. One had to wonder if she had any family.
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Post by desna on Nov 22, 2008 14:55:55 GMT -5
She was all jittery, it was awkward. She didn't want to think that she was stupid enough to get attached to someone but why did it seem like she'd made the biggest mistake ever. Heading through the crowd Desna managed to avoid her various other friends attention. She'd have to find Pikatti eventually but it wasn't on her mind at the moment, he was alright, safe and sound with Aden's parents no doubt being pampered with treats and hand outs. He was such a good dog. The only family she really felt she had left.
Desna came out on the other side of the crowd heading for someplace quiet where she could think. She needed it. What was the worst that could happen? Aden was really nice, would it be so bad to let herself get close to someone? He was a warrior, the chance always stood that he might leave.... It didn't matter cause she didn't like him anyway. Her head was just doing stupid things, blowing her friendship out of proportion because all her friends were finding men to steal their freedom.
What did she even know about Aden? People were dangerous naturally, it was best to avoid them. Pikatti and her plants were safe, she knew them, they were familure and as long as she cared for them they'd be there for her It wasn't like she knew much about good family relationships anything. She half expected to feel the hand on her shoulder, like the thought of it summoned him, she knew she was being stalked, it didn't make it any better. " You look lovely, like your mother."
" Don't- touch- me." Desna turned slightly disturbed to notice how far she was from people. Pikatti wasn't here and she felt herself become a little frieghtened.
" Desna, come on now, your getting older, are you going to keep running forever? She'd dead, move back into the city." His hand gripped her shoulder and she whimpered in mild pain as his fingers pressed into her clothes and into her skin. Desna tried to back away further glarring at him.
" That hurts! Get off." She hissed at the older man wanting to run though her feet wouldn't budge, she could see him start to heat up, he was getting angry and she didn't know what to do. A slight blush on the man, her father's, face told her he'd been drinking. It wasn't like she couldn't smell his breath
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Post by ryota on Nov 22, 2008 15:00:21 GMT -5
"Well," Ryota said, almost humming to himself in a muddled and indistinctive diction. It took the blink of any eye to decide whether it would be Misui or Aden he would reply to, but from their standpoint, the single syllable he spoke would likely have a twofold meaning. Love took priority over friendship in this case, however, despite the relative shortness he had known either waterbender. Gently taking her hand into his own, he squeezed it slightly as if you assure her things were alright, and gazed back into her blue eyes. "If you say so, my dearest." Ryota smiled at how much she seemed to care about his tribe.
Turning to Aden next, he tried to heed the waterbender's words as much as possible. She surely wasn't offended, according to Aden, and Ryota would try his best to believe. "If you say so," he trailed off a bit, absently letting his eyes drift to nothing in particular. Nothing else could be said at that point, but he did realize Aden seemed a bit antsy, like he wanted to leave after Desna or something.
Misui seemed to agree there were many odd things about Desna, but Ryota couldn't bring himself to judge her.
Smiling, he looked back to Aden and held out his hand to shake. In order to dismiss him, in case the almost antisocial young man desired such things, Ryota would indulge in the universal means of ending a conversation; a goodbye without actually saying goodbye. "Well, it was great talking to you again!"
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Post by aden on Nov 22, 2008 20:48:35 GMT -5
Aden tried futily to drain any last drops from his cup, but got little more than some melted water from the heat of his breath. He allowed the happy couple their moment to discuss their future plans and took that time to shift toward the bowl of tea. He didn't bother with the ladel this time and merely lifted a stream of the drink into the air with his bending and deposited it expertly into his cup.
He was a little surprised by the tone of Ryota's next statement though. Aden kept any negative expression off of his face, but all the same he realized that the other warrior was deciding to make that the end of their conversation. It wasn't as though he was affronted by being dismissed like that. It was a party, after all, and for people like them it couldn't be expected to spend the entirety of the time chatting with just one other person.
"Same here," Aden responded, smiling kindly as he offered the two a polite bow. He might have liked to linger around that part of the food table for a while longer, but now that Desna was gone and the conversation with Ryota was over, he felt the need to put some distance between himself and the happy couple.
Aden stood up and gave one last informal wave before starting back toward where he had last seen his parents.
He arrived at the bench where his parents were still sitting, only now they had some neighbors sitting near them and were chatting idly about how great the looked after the reconstruction. Aden caught his mother's attention and waved, and she turned away from the conversation to ask him, "Where did Desna go?"
"She found another friend, I think," Aden answered, "Somewhere on the dance floor, or at least that's where she said she was going." He took a seat on the bench facing the larger crowd and sipped his tea, but his mother was still fixing him an accusing look. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied, in a tone that made Aden certain that he had done something ungentlemanly in his mother's eyes. However, she didn't bother to explain whatever issue she had with Aden's conduct, and instead informed him, "Her dog is still here with us, though. Make sure the two find each other again before the festival is over."
"Okay, okay," Aden replied, and he leaned back to spot Pikatti sitting beside his father, hungry eyes watching the food in his hand.
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Post by desna on Nov 22, 2008 21:20:51 GMT -5
Desna tried to jerk free of the man but he grabbed her other shoulder and shook her towards him and away from him. Her eyes sealed themselves shut and she pursed her lips together locking her jaw. It was reflexive, she didn't want to be hurt, she didn't do much more than whimper at the pain caused by his probing fingers that felt like spiked jabbed into her with an alarming pressure that would no doubt leave bruises. " Listen to me your ignorant little brat!" His voice was mildly slurred, he breathed into her face the most horrible vile smell, she'd never drink tundra vodka if her life depended on it. Not after seeing what it did to people.
Her head jerked back and forth as he moved her, she wouldn't look at him, she wouldn't move. Hopefully he'd let her go and wander off somewhere else, to her surprise she heard sobbing from the man and one of her eyes opened sceptically to see her father bent over slightly, crying plain as day, his hands still gripped tightly to her own rather frail bony shoulders. Tears streamed down his face but she couldn't find any pity for him, she owed him nothing, he wasn't a part of her life.
" You're a cold emotionless b****...." He groaned to himself and Desna's face contorted with the smell of his booze laced breath. She wanted Pikatti, she wanted him to let go of her, she wanted to run but to where? Nigaq looked up at her expecting some sort of response from her, when he didn't get one his face heated up, with an emotion she knew to be rage. Fear flickered in her eyes for a moment and she struggled against him pushing against him with her hands.
She'd thought she was free of him for a moment, his hand was off his shoulder but with a flash of white she was on the ground, her father having back handed her. After the initial shock wore off she scrambled up, her face red and her hands nursing her cheek, tears of pain collecting in the corner of her eyes she felt some blood in her mouth perhaps from biting her own cheek or something else. " What is it going to take for you to grow up!?" He went to hit her again but tripped over himself floundering on the ground and trying to get back to his feet again.
Before anything further transpired she moved past him headed back to the party, he wouldn't do something stupid around people, why was she so stupid to run off without Pikatti. It was just foolish. Her sleeve rubbed into her face getting rid of her tears, of course she got a few glances but she moved through the area looking for a girl she knew. Of course, she was dancing with her husband. " Ula? I need some quick healing." The boy seemed a little surprised at the girl and his bride was a little shocked. "Des! what happened?"
Desna shook her head and the girl excused herself from the dance and took Desna over near some benches and sat down indicating Desna should do the same, she took off her gloves carefully and bent some water from the ground, the liquid taking on the healing glow, it was centered around Desna's cheek, trying to suppress the bruise forming and the blood vessels injured. " You're not going to tell me anything are you...?"
With a shrug Desna looked at the crowd impassively, after a moment she forced a smile and laughed half heartedly. " You know me,.. I'm clumsy as a fish on rocks." Ula didn't seem impressed but she continued working with a slightly disapproving look.
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Post by misui on Nov 22, 2008 23:34:48 GMT -5
Misui smiled and waved her good byes to Aden, he was such a nice boy, though he seemed a bit dense, nothing wrong with it though, it could be an endearing quality at times, annoying at others. Desna would be happy with him though, he was grounded where she was flighty. Give and take was the foundation of a good relationship, she had to say that was true with herself and Ryota. It didn't hurt that he was strong and charming. Honestly she was surprised to see him again after the siege, and now. Well it seemed like history at this point even though it was only a couple weeks ago that they'd even met.
Hugging Ryota's arm to herself she looked about the crowd, her head held high showing off her neck, namely the pendant she had on it. It may not have been the most intricate design but the meaning and the love put into it touched her in a way a designer necklace wouldn't have. Besides that it had a companion piece, the tattoo on his chest, reminding both of them of them that they were in love, they promised one another to wait a year, a long hard year to be together, it would be worth it. To finally be married, to live together, to start their family.
" Perhaps we should visit master Pakku and see if there are any plans for him to go South." She looked up at Ryota with a slight amount of interest, it also wouldn't hurt for them to find out when he was leaving, she didn't like not knowing, it made her nervous. The year would be too long to wait, she'd rather not have to but it was necessary. Ryota had his obligations.
It was just that recently she'd been a little odd, giddy, but it was just love, still it seemed different. She didn't know anything about it. Everyone said she glowed, that was because of her proposal. Somehow Ryota had changed her, in ways she didn't yet know.
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Post by ryota on Nov 24, 2008 2:13:51 GMT -5
Ryota was taken aback with Misui's suggestion, proven so by his facial expression and the slight tilt of his head; almost like a confused tiger-seal taking in a misunderstood order, but nowhere near as potentially hostile as the creature in question may be. It was a look he often displayed, which meant that Misui probably saw it more times than she could recall and probably learned it to be one of his many quirks.
"Uh...sure!" he said a second later, still trying to register the thought in his mind. Everything was happening so quickly, but would it be sped up more than he thought? Would they return to the south and marry in a matter of months or weeks instead of years? It sent an excited chill up his spine to think his promise would reach fruition so soon.
As if it were on cue, the inconspicuous shiver was accompanied by a much more visible smile that struck his features; one of hope and optimism, like his eyes were looking ahead to a bright and none-too-distant future instead of at Misui's own blue pupils. His hand grasped hers quickly, with a sort of soft yet secure grip - the very essence of his being, in a sense. "Let's go! What are we waiting for?"
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Post by misui on Nov 24, 2008 10:42:08 GMT -5
Misui watched Ryota patiently waiting for an answer, after a bit he thought about it and finally came to with his answer. There was a bit of extra excitement there that she did little but laugh at hugging his arm affectionately. If he knew the stern bull headed man he wouldn't be so excited about going to see him. That much was obvious. Honestly Ryota could be like a little kid sometimes.
"Alright alright." She beamed at the man and started to tug him in the direction of the old bending master, he was talking with some men that looked old as he was, if not older. Of course Chief Arnook was there as well, he seemed out of the conversation though, gazing softly at the moon with a distant expression many in the city understood by now. It was sobering to even see him, that was the sort of longing most wouldn't know. Death was one thing, it could be handled in time but his daughter went willingly, to save the entire tribe during the first siege, it was sad.
The healer tugged her intended with her all the way to the bending master pausing enough to give him some breathing room should he turn around and regard them. " Master Pakku?" Misui spoke carefully glancing at the back of the man's head. He turned to face them with his eyebrow quirked and his expression in that seemingly endless frown.
" Yes? And to what may I owe this rude intrusion of my conversation?" He didn't miss a beat and the men standing with him didn't seem to phased by it, continuing their conversation. Misui let her grip slack on Ryota's arm in favor of bowing to the man, she didn't take him to heart whatso ever.
" We've heard that you were intending to head to the Southern tribe, would you know what the southern warriors are doing?"
Pakku thought that over for a while and shrugged his hand on his chin. " Well, I know Hakkoda and his men are in the earthkingdom, the some of the warriors are to head back with me and assist in rebuilding the tribes the rest will return to Hakkoda, you look a little young for a warrior though? Has Kana's grandchild's influence even reached the youth of today? Next thing you know there will be women abound in the morning bending classes, what is this world coming to."
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Post by aden on Nov 24, 2008 23:01:52 GMT -5
Aden spent the next few minutes staring into his cup of tea as he slowly sipped it away. Aside from a greeting by his neighbors, he was largely ignoring the conversation his parents were carrying on. Instead he went about the task of replaying his interaction with Desna in his mind from the moment they spotted each other til the moment she ran off. He had felt like he'd done nothing wrong at the time, but after his mother had given him that look he was second-guessing himself.
Was it wrong of him to leave the dance floor? On the surface it might seem so, but their agreement was that they would only dance for one song. In that regard he couldn't see himself being wrong. Besides, he had made it clear just how uncomfortable dancing made him. Desna obviously liked it, but at what point did making her happy start being worth his misery? Aden didn't mind doing people favors. He even liked making other people happy. But when it came at the cost of great personal embarassment and discomfort... he had less of a problem standing his ground.
Aden allowed a sight to escape his lips and he tossed back the remainder of his tea in one gulp. Despite what his mother may think, he felt like he couldn't take any blame for this one. Regardless of the prevalent attitude of acquiescing to a lady's request, whatever it may be, Aden couldn't justify it in his own mind. Maybe if he and Desna were... more than friends, the situation would be different. But that was certainly not the case, and even then Aden felt as though it would be a dangerous precedent to be setting for any future relationship.
Eventually Pikatti had come over to his feet after the food supply ran outa nd, seeing him without Desna, sniffed rapidly at his clothes and hands. "Easy, boy," Aden said to the animal, closing his fist around the ice cup and dissolving it right into mist. "She's with a friend on the dance floor." At that he pointed out toward the crowd.
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Post by desna on Nov 24, 2008 23:45:51 GMT -5
The bruise was working it's way off of her cheek she didn't move too much not wanting to hinder Ula's bending in anyway. Her face tingled with the odd healing capacities she put into the water. She wasn't too worried about it, as far as she knew Ula was decent a decent healer and she knew enough about Desna to not as too many questions. Her husband stayed respectfully near them his gaze landing on Desna trying to figure out exactly what happened but following his wife he didn't say anything.
It wasn't long before a boy wandered over, he was about eighteen, his hair in a ponytail at his back, braids interwoven with the dark locks. His eyes were a deep blue and he wore a pretty plain parka. With his hands in a pouch on the front he wandered over casting Ula and her husband a smile. " Hey, Desna trip again?" From her place on the bench Desna shot him a pout and then rolled her eyes.
" It's nothing." She said easily not really wanting to continue the conversation, if she wasn't being patched up she would have been in better spirits, after all, he was one of her friends and she hadn't seen him in a while.
" Bite my head off why don't you?" He said with a smile. Desna pouted some what and stuck her tongue out at him. "My mouth is no where near big enough to bit off YOUR big head." He laughed a bit and she smiled some, though he began to search about her as if looking for something. " Where's Pikatti?"
Desna blinked only now remembering he wasn't around, she figured he was back with Aden's parents, that meant he was safe and no doubt spoiled with treats. " He's mooching from people over by the food." The boy shrugged his shoulders and then turned to Ula's husband striking up a conversation with him. Ula smiled somewhat returning the water to the ground and declaring the healing job finished. She did lean into Desna though with a bit of a smile on her lips." Qimmiq is very nice you know, and I think he likes you, why don't you go dance with him?" Desna rubbed her face and looked at the girl. Why did it seem like all married men wanted everyone else around them, to be married.
" He's not my type." She said simply trying to get herself out of this but her old friend was one step ahead of her. " Hey! Desna wants to dance, Qimmiq your free." The boy smiled and looked at Desna holding his hand out to her. " If your sure that you can dance with that injury, it may be too much for you." Desna blinked a bit and stood up, she took his hand and all but dragged him to the frey. She wasn't about to be told that she could or could not dance.
Pikatti indeed over with Aden's family whimpered settling his head onto Aden's lap looking at him as if he knew where his lost master was. Then with his nose in the air he sniffed and began to wander off after her scent.
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Post by aden on Nov 25, 2008 0:36:38 GMT -5
With only a moment's hesitation, the polar bear-dog soon started trotting away toward the crowd. "Hey," Aden called out to Pikatti, "Come back. Pikatti!" He blew out a sharp whistling noise to try and catch the animal's attention, but Pikatti only spared him a momentary glance before snaking his way toward the larger crowd.
Aden stood up from his seat, and the movement caught his mother's attention. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Making sure Pikatti doesn't get lost," he replied, and she seemed to nod her acceptance of that course of action. Aden walked swiftly across the snow, doing his best to keept the fuzzy white creature in sight as he mad ehis way through the crowd.
He ended up going in quite the erratic path, apparently having difficulty tracking Desna with so many other scents in the air. But eventually the bear-dog seemed to spot his master and hurried up the rest of the way. Aden followed Pikatti's path ahead of him and also managed to pick out Desna...
Only she wasn't alone. Well, of course she wasn't... She'd even said that she was going off to dance with another friend. Aden wondered why that gave him pause, but all the same he continued walking towards her. He didn't want to interrupt her dance, but he preferred that she didn't think he just let her pet run off from his supervision without making sure it found her.
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Post by desna on Nov 25, 2008 9:48:42 GMT -5
Desna was dancing with the boy on the other side of the dance floor near the edge, still she was twisting turning and having a good time. Her partner this time wasn't running away, moving awkwardly or making excuses, it could even be said he was having just as much fun as she was. That all went to dust when Pikatti showed up.
The dog bounded over to Desna like he hadn't seen her in years, of course Desna noticed him and pulled away from Qimmiq just in time to have a large animal pounce onto her shoulders and lick her face. Luckily she'd turned to the side with her hands blocking most of the assault. " Pikatti!"
He didn't care much for his owners discomfort, just glad to see her around but he got a whiff of something he didn't like and started to growl. Desna ignored it and stroked the polar bear dogs fur trying to get him to calm down. " I missed you too buddy." Qimmiq beamed at the dog and joined in Desna and ruffling his fur, the guy was defiantly an animal lover, from knowing him for so long Desna knew he didn't have one of his own because his mother was allergic and he went out to fish in the ocean too often to train any creature.
Pikatti didn't take long to cool down, before he looked back in Aden's direction, noticing this Desna noticed his line of vision and spotted him.
Her smile turned into a grin and she waved to him trying to motion for him to come over. " Hey!" Qimmiq did look at her thought for a moment, something in his gaze that most people wouldn't notice and something that some people like Desna would ignore.
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